Nissan to produce electric variants of Qashqai, Juke models in UK

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company is set to unveil plans on Friday to produce electric versions of its popular Qashqai and Juke models at its Sunderland plant in northern England, according to a report by Sky News. 

The move is expected to involve a crucial investment, with sources in the automotive industry indicating that Nissan will allocate hundreds of millions of pounds to the project. While no upfront taxpayer funds will be utilised, the British government is anticipated to offer guarantees to support the initiative.

As part of an investment exceeding £1 billion ($1.25 billion), Nissan aims to manufacture two new electric models at the Sunderland plant, as reported by the Financial Times, citing individuals briefed on the plans. 

In September, Nissan announced that one of the two new electric vehicle models designated for Europe would be produced at the same facility.

Although a spokesperson for Nissan in Japan declined to comment on the reports, it is speculated that the announcement will be made by Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak potentially visiting the site on Friday for the official unveiling. 

The decision to produce electric vehicles in the UK aligns with the broader industry trend toward sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions.

(With Reuters Inputs)